The Journal of hospital infection
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Complex and prolonged cardiovascular operations are increasingly performed on young infants and children. The aims of this study were to define the incidence, causative bacterial pathogens and risk factors for sternal wound infections (SWIs) in infants and children undergoing cardiac surgery. The study group included all children who underwent cardiac surgery by median sternotomy at a tertiary paediatric centre from 1999 to 2003 and who were diagnosed with a postoperative SWI. ⋯ Gram-negative infections were significantly associated with preoperative oxygen treatment (P=0.007) and prolonged urinary catheter dwell time (P=0.004). This study confirms younger age as risk factor for SWI and adds cyanotic heart disease and duration of CVC as new independent risk factors. Specific risks for Gram-negative infections are identified and should help to introduce new preventive strategies to decrease the incidence and severity of SWI.